What are the benefits and limitations of screening for lung cancer?
Almost every test or procedure has benefits and limitations. You might think of these as pros and cons. Before having any test, it’s important to be aware of them so that you’re making an informed decision that’s right for you.
No screening test is 100% accurate, but the scientific evidence tells us that low-dose CT scans can help find lung cancer early in people with a history of smoking. It’s important to know the benefits and limitations of regular cancer screening.
- Most lung cancers are harmful, and screening with low-dose CT scans can find them at an earlier stage.
- Screening can help make sure that lung cancer is found and treated as early as possible.
- Finding lung cancer early with a low-dose CT scan may mean less treatment and less time spent recovering.
- Results may suggest lung cancer is present even though it isn’t (called a false-positive result).
- Results may appear as normal even though lung cancer is present (called a false-negative result).
- Low-dose CT scans expose the lungs to radiation. The amount of radiation in each test is very low, but it adds up over time.
- Screening for lung cancer can also find a cancer that would not cause illness or death, which may lead to unnecessary treatment and side effects from these treatments (called overdiagnosis).
At this time, people who don’t have a history of smoking tobacco should not be screened for lung cancer with low-dose CT scans. There isn’t enough evidence to know if screening is effective for people who have smoked less than 30 pack-years or for people who have other risk factors for lung cancer.
It's your decision
Still trying to decide if screening is right for you? It is important to find cancer early, so we believe the benefits of using low-dose CT scans to screen for lung cancer in people with a history of smoking outweigh the limitations.
Talk to your healthcare provider about the benefits and limitations of screening for lung cancer and if it’s right for you.